Thoms is significant in nursing history because she broke racial barriers and fought for the inclusion of African American nurses in mainstream nursing organizations and employment opportunities. Her advocacy work helped pave the way for future generations of minority nurses and highlighted the importance of diversity in the healthcare workforce. Additionally, her efforts contributed to the eventual dissolution of the NACGN in 1951 when it merged with the American Nurses Association (ANA), thereby integrating African American nurses into the broader professional community.
